winter whites, 4 (and a report)

it does come back. all of it. every last bit of baby-love comes right on back. the sleeping with one ear open, the ability to distinguish between "ba" and "ba" (ball and bottle), even the ability to hold the baby in one arm and do anything you can imagine of with the other. it all comes back. but of course, you all knew that it would. thank you, thank you for all of your encouraging comments yesterday. they are so much appreciated (my brother got a kick out of reading them, too!), and they gave me just the confidence i needed to attack this day with gusto.

it has been so much fun. smelling that baby smell. watching these three little people enjoy each other as much as they do. snuggling up with a baby before her nap. remembering what it's like to see the world through brand new eyes. singing (and singing and singing) in the car and at dinner and at bedtime.

but man, i don't know how you people with three kids do it! i am tired. it is hard to make three breakfasts and two lunches at the same time at seven o'clock in the morning. and it's hard to walk a child into school carrying a baby and her two dollies and the child's backpack and lunchbox and then explain to the baby why she is not staying at school. it's hard to navigate between two children who want the undivided attention of one toddler, and who really don't understand how to play with a toddler in the first place. oh, and all of the carrying! sheesh. i'm out of practice.

i had grand plans for us today - me and the babe - the library, a quick stop at the market (note to self: nothing is quick with a baby), a visit to my grandmother in her nursing home. of course, by the time i got both kids off to school and cleaned up from breakfast and ate my breakfast and packed a bag and got myself dressed, it was just about nap time. so i shuffled up the plans and made the visit to my grandmother our only major outing.

our time with my grandmother was short - the babe was already tired, and feeling understandably shy. but i was reminded, as i am reminded every time i visit my grandmother with my own children, how extraordinary it is to be standing in a room with my grandmother and her great-grandchild. how enormous is the span of time and love wrapped up in that little space? it gives me the shivers every time.

and since it's winter whites week, these serving pieces were my grandmother's. given to me years ago, when i was newly engaged and she was making a big move. they sit on a shelf in my dining room behind glass doors where i can see them every day; where i can watch the days and months and years pass by these timeless dishes that have served up nourishment to four generations of my family. and i am reminded, again, of the vast expanse of time and love that came before me, and all that is yet to come.

Comments

[eb]

such lovely images - and an especially beautiful story - you've inspired me - many thanks - and have fun with that wee one - lucky you!

xox- eb.

[Alicia A.]

Glad to hear you're having some fun with her, if only for a few days.

I have three on Wednesdays- we watch our good little friend (who thankfully is NOT a baby) but it is always a long day and I am pooped.

[leslie]

i love the last line. so true. so beautiful.

[Victoria]

3 children - I have 2 and I think once the adults are outnumbered by the small ones .... trouble!

[Pina]

I can't help myself not to say it (again?) that I really enjoy reading your blog. It makes me smile sometimes but more often it makes me think of my life and different aspects of our lives in general. If I could express my thoughts like you... The last line is so beautiful!

[Amy]

Well, I don't know how you people with 2 kids do it. So there.

And at the beginning I thought you meant that the love that you give your baby comes back to you later. And yeah - that happens too, doesn't it? Every last bit.

That square dish is amazing!

[Tracy]

That first part made me smile so. I love to hear wonderful baby stories. And that last part hit me like a ton of bricks. A. Ton. Of. Bricks.

Wow.

Have a fantastic weekend, Emily!

[cloth.paper.string]

lovely reflections on time and love and family, emily!

[tracy]

shivers here.
beautiful - enjoy those blessings...

[blair]

I would so love to have a 16 month old that I could keep a while, then hand back to his or her parents ; ) You are a good auntie!

[dandelion]

lovely pictures - these dishes are amazing...x

[Heather]

Beautiful white photos. Thanks for sharing.

Another thank you! I didn't give credit to you in my blog because I couldn't remember where I had seen it, but I took your flower pot idea for my Chicken's birthday party and all the kids loved it and took a long time doing the pots (They were 9 and 10 year olds)

Thanks again! You saved my day!

[molly]

I love this post, emily. Every day when I see my children interacting with my grandmother it gives me chills. I try my hardest to not forget what an amazing privilege and blessing it is for them to know her and have such a wonderful relationship with her.

[SanchezDELORIS20]

I took my first personal loans when I was 25 and that helped me a lot. However, I require the small business loan once more time.